This annoying body of mine.

To be fair, it has been doing well considering everything. It’s just that I have to lay here in the nursery staring at the ceiling while the lingering fever sending ice up and down my veins keeps me from having fun with everyone else. The summer festival started yesterday, but that was when the cold popped up to lock me inside the palace.

Today has been the same. Having recently woken but still being exhausted, I wondered if I shouldn’t simply pass the time by returning to sleep. Then the doorknob turned. Great-Grandfather and Great-Grandmother slipped in where I expected Felicity, the raven-haired maid, to check on me.

“Gawain, I can walk to the chair,” Great-Grandmother fussed. She failed to wiggle out of his supportive hold on her arm.

“Of course, dear. I merely don’t want to let you go.”

Great-Grandmother rolled her eyes and permitted him to sit her in the rocking chair. While she didn’t look weak enough to not be able to walk, the paleness of her face and shaking of her limbs did signify a risk. She didn’t mind the white and red blanket Great-Grandfather placed upon her lap either. Then I was snuggly placed within her arms.

“Yes, this is the best medicine,” Great-Grandmother lovingly mumbled. She placed a long kiss upon my forehead, her scent a brush of wildflowers. Great-Grandfather scooted the footstool from the armchair over to gingerly lower himself next to us where his head rest upon her shoulder. Great-Grandmother got over her irritation at that and smiled. “Can you believe this is the baby of our baby’s baby?”

“We’re too old,” Great-Grandfather laughed along, “and I’m glad for it.”

“That is for certain. I could never have imagined this when we married. This family. This peace.”

“I loathe so much of the past. But,” Great-Grandfather poked my cheek, “it was worth it to have Leo know little of the struggles. Eagan, Cedric, and these tiny ones even less.”

“Your mother would be proud.” Great-Grandmother kissed his hair.

Great-Grandfather nodded, closed his eyes, and relaxed in the silence. Great-Grandmother did the same. The over-exertion or whatever matter pulled her from the festivities appeared to fade as I also worked myself back on the path to dreamland. The lovely nothingness of sleep nearly clutched me when Great-Grandmother abruptly seized forward. Squeezed between her legs and chest, she heaved and wheezed, beads of sweat on her forehead.

“Enota!” Great-Grandfather attempted to sit her up. His eyes danced with flames. Great-Grandmother's contorted expression immediately softened only for a frown to deepen her wrinkles as her breathing steadied, raspy as it was.

“I’ve told you to stop using your Blessing on me,” she chided.

“What am I supposed to do? Watch as you suffer and hurt?” he snapped back. His eyes returned their normal brown.

“We are both taunting death. Unfortunately, it comes with the territory. I don’t like it, but we shouldn’t break the rules. A Blessing, Syara’s Grace...they are not to extend the natural cycle of life.”

“I-I’m not extending anything. Merely easing the symptoms and pain.”

“The power does not work that way, and you know it. It eases the symptoms and pain by healing both what normal medicine can and cannot touch.

Great-Grandfather bitterly glanced away. “The ‘natural cycle’ you say. By that logic, we should not use either to heal in any situation. These children should have died, Renira should have died, any helped in the healing wards across the kingdom should have died. In fact, any medicine, any treatment should be banned dare it interfere with the ‘natural cycle’! It only makes sense, doesn’t it?”

I recoiled at the stiff tension uncertain of what to do. Should I be crying? I feel like I should be crying. Being sick, having been squished, and these loud, terse words would send a normal baby to tears. However, I couldn’t will myself to break the silence. Great-Grandfather stole my thunder anyway when wetness filled his eyes instead.

“I-I’m sorry. I’m...reacting poorly. You’re right, Enota. Saving a little baby is different than prolonging the life of a withered man who has lived richly and fully. We don’t know the effects of combating old age with the powers of the divine or Syara’s Grace, and the battle to obtain the antidote to death would likely only lead to more of it. I just...” Great-Grandfather's voice quivered. “If the thought of you hurting drives me to throw rationality out the window, then the thought of you passing...”

“Gawain...” Great-Grandmother sweetly entangled her fingers in his hair.

“I don’t want to lose you. You’re my...I...”

“I love you too, dear. With everything I have. Partners no matter the misery of the world, as promised.”

Despite Great-Grandmother holding me, the two forgot about my presence as they rested upon each other with closed eyes drenching themselves in comfort and peace. Only when I sneezed, to my frustration— wanting to take in the moment as long as possible, did the two straighten and the air return to normal.

“Hmm, well,” Great-Grandmother cleared her throat. “The healers say the seizing’s cause is curable and will vanish once I complete my round of medicine. You’re still stuck with me for several years more.”

“I’ll languish every moment of it,” Great-Grandfather bantered with a tender smile. “Including ensuring this sweet one is well tended. We came to watch her but immediately caused problems. Forgive us, dear Evianna.”

“Shall we sit by the window to await Felicity?”

“That sounds marvelous.”

Great-Grandfather moved the two chairs to the one window on the wall, let the wafting summer wind in, made sure Great-Grandmother took her medicine first when Felicity brought it along with the sweets, and sang me a most beautiful song that reached out to the sky.